Announcing our 2018 World Migratory Bird Day Birdathon

World Migratory Bird Day 2018 (previously known as International Migratory Bird Day) is Saturday, May 12th. The Brooklyn Bird Club celebrates WMBD every year by holding a Birdathon, in which members form or join a team and go out and count bird species. Typically participants reach out to friends and family for donations, usually a set amount per bird species counted during the course of the day.

This year’s designated beneficiary of our annual Birdathon is WINORR, Wildlife In Need Of Rescue and Rehabilition. WINORR is the go-to organization in the metro area for rescuing, rehabbing and releasing wild birds, particularly raptors, that have suffered an injury or are in need of medical care. WINORR rescued the injured Snowy Owl found by a BBC member at Floyd Bennett Field earlier this year and are in the process of restoring it back to health. WINORR also provides the birds for the annual Raptorfest event at Prospect Park.

Bobbi Manian roberta.manian@gmail.com has graciously agreed to organize teams for us again this year, so if you have a team or would like to join a team, please contact her. (Also, she could use a co-director if anyone would be willing to give her a hand.)

Please feel free to participate at any level you wish. Some of us like to have a leisurely cup of coffee before setting out for the day and other teams (you know – fanatics) get up before dawn to try and bag an owl or two before the sun comes up – it’s your call.

For those not up for a full day of birding, Michele Dreger’s Introduction to Birdwatching group will meet at the Boathouse in Prospect Park at noon, and bird for a few hours – all are welcome here without reservation – bring binoculars!

The idea is to have fun and raise some money for a worthy cause on World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) – http://www.migratorybirdday.org/ . This year’s official theme is “The Year of the Bird” and the actions we take can help birds 365 days a year. Cathy and Bobby Hovarth (pictured above) of WINORR certainly take actions daily to help our birds and have made it their life’s work, so let’s help them help our feathered friends this year.